nep-mst New Economics Papers
on Market Microstructure
Issue of 2023‒12‒18
five papers chosen by
Thanos Verousis, Vlerick Business School


  1. Dollar and government bond liquidity: evidence from Korea By Jieun Lee
  2. Analysis of frequent trading effects of various machine learning models By Jiahao Chen; Xiaofei Li
  3. Harnessing Deep Q-Learning for Enhanced Statistical Arbitrage in High-Frequency Trading: A Comprehensive Exploration By Soumyadip Sarkar
  4. The QLBS Model within the presence of feedback loops through the impacts of a large trader By Ahmet Umur \"Ozsoy; \"Om\"ur U\u{g}ur
  5. A simulated electronic market with speculative behaviour and bubble formation By Nicolas Cofre; Magdalena Mosionek-Schweda

  1. By: Jieun Lee
    Abstract: Using unique tick-by-tick data from an exchange, this paper examines the relationship between the US dollar and liquidity in the Korean government (Treasury) bond market. We find that a strong US dollar deteriorates the Treasury market's liquidity by increasing the bid-ask spread and the price impact and lowering market depth. The effects of fluctuations in the broad US dollar index on Treasury market liquidity become more pronounced when funding liquidity conditions are tighter, when banks' total capital ratio is lower with greater foreign currency risk, or when there is a larger sell-off of Korean Treasury bonds by foreign investors. The empirical evidence supports the financial channel of exchange rates affecting Treasury market liquidity. In particular, a strong dollar as a global risk factor is likely to limit the market intermediation capacity of emerging market dealers through the currency exposures of borrowers or dealers and thus tighten market conditions.
    Keywords: dollar, exchange rate, Treasury bond liquidity, funding liquidity, foreign investors
    JEL: E58 F34 G12
    Date: 2023–11
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bis:biswps:1145&r=mst
  2. By: Jiahao Chen; Xiaofei Li
    Abstract: In recent years, high-frequency trading has emerged as a crucial strategy in stock trading. This study aims to develop an advanced high-frequency trading algorithm and compare the performance of three different mathematical models: the combination of the cross-entropy loss function and the quasi-Newton algorithm, the FCNN model, and the vector machine. The proposed algorithm employs neural network predictions to generate trading signals and execute buy and sell operations based on specific conditions. By harnessing the power of neural networks, the algorithm enhances the accuracy and reliability of the trading strategy. To assess the effectiveness of the algorithm, the study evaluates the performance of the three mathematical models. The combination of the cross-entropy loss function and the quasi-Newton algorithm is a widely utilized logistic regression approach. The FCNN model, on the other hand, is a deep learning algorithm that can extract and classify features from stock data. Meanwhile, the vector machine is a supervised learning algorithm recognized for achieving improved classification results by mapping data into high-dimensional spaces. By comparing the performance of these three models, the study aims to determine the most effective approach for high-frequency trading. This research makes a valuable contribution by introducing a novel methodology for high-frequency trading, thereby providing investors with a more accurate and reliable stock trading strategy.
    Date: 2023–09
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2311.10719&r=mst
  3. By: Soumyadip Sarkar
    Abstract: The realm of High-Frequency Trading (HFT) is characterized by rapid decision-making processes that capitalize on fleeting market inefficiencies. As the financial markets become increasingly competitive, there is a pressing need for innovative strategies that can adapt and evolve with changing market dynamics. Enter Reinforcement Learning (RL), a branch of machine learning where agents learn by interacting with their environment, making it an intriguing candidate for HFT applications. This paper dives deep into the integration of RL in statistical arbitrage strategies tailored for HFT scenarios. By leveraging the adaptive learning capabilities of RL, we explore its potential to unearth patterns and devise trading strategies that traditional methods might overlook. We delve into the intricate exploration-exploitation trade-offs inherent in RL and how they manifest in the volatile world of HFT. Furthermore, we confront the challenges of applying RL in non-stationary environments, typical of financial markets, and investigate methodologies to mitigate associated risks. Through extensive simulations and backtests, our research reveals that RL not only enhances the adaptability of trading strategies but also shows promise in improving profitability metrics and risk-adjusted returns. This paper, therefore, positions RL as a pivotal tool for the next generation of HFT-based statistical arbitrage, offering insights for both researchers and practitioners in the field.
    Date: 2023–09
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2311.10718&r=mst
  4. By: Ahmet Umur \"Ozsoy; \"Om\"ur U\u{g}ur
    Abstract: We extend the QLBS model by reformulating via considering a large trader whose transactions leave a permanent impact on the evolution of the exchange rate process and therefore affect the price of contingent claims on such processes. Through a hypothetical limit order book we quantify the exchange rate altered by such transactions. We therefore define the quoted exchange rate process, for which we assume the existence of a postulated hedging strategy. Given the quoted exchange rate and postulated hedging strategy, we find an optimal hedging strategy through batch-mode reinforcement learning given the trader alters the course of the exchange rate process. We assume that the trader has its own concept of fair price and we define our problem as finding the hedging strategy with much lower transaction costs yet delivering a price that well converges to the fair price of the trader. We show our contribution results in an optimal hedging strategy with much lower transaction costs and convergence to the fair price is obtained assuming sensible parameters.
    Date: 2023–11
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2311.06790&r=mst
  5. By: Nicolas Cofre; Magdalena Mosionek-Schweda
    Abstract: This paper presents an agent based model of an electronic market with two types of trading agents. One type follows a mean reverting strategy and the other, the speculative trader, tracks the maximum realised return over recent trades. The speculators have a distribution of returns concentrated on negative returns, with a small fraction making profits. The market experiences an increased volatility and prices that greatly depart from the fundamental value of the asset. Our research provides synthetic datasets of the order book to study its dynamics under different levels of speculation
    Date: 2023–11
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2311.12247&r=mst

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